James Jackson Segars, Jr.

James Jackson Segars, Jr.

James Segars was born in Monroe, Georgia on January 16, 1940 and died in Decatur, Georgia on November 26, 2018. He grew up in Decatur, Georgia and graduated from Decatur High School. He went to the University of Georgia where he graduated with a major in Mathematics in 1962. He was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Upon graduation he married his high school sweetheart, Harriet Young Segars. He was 16 and she was 14 when they fell in love at Decatur High School. After marrying, they moved to Rapid City, South Dakota where he served at Ellsworth Air Force Base. They moved back to Atlanta three years later where James started his career at Dun and Bradstreet. He soon launched his career in banking at Citizens and Southern and Bank South. He was revered, respected and loved by all who worked with him for his quite, gentle and understated leadership. He was a pioneer in online cash management and alternative payments systems. He and Harriet were married for 55 years. They have two daughters, Beth Segars McRae (Nashville) and her husband Andrew Thomas McRae, III and Julie Segars Smith (Decatur) and her husband Matt Steven Smith. He is survived by his only and beloved sister, Frances Segars of Alpharetta. He was proud of his six grandchildren, Jackson Segars Rodgers (Atlanta), Langston Nicholas Rodgers (Ennis, MT), Marion Young McRae (Nashville), Andrew Thomas McRae IV (Nashville), Audrey Catherine Smith (Decatur) and Edythe Claire Smith (Decatur). His grandchildren lovingly called him Pop. After retiring James spent time travelling with Harriet and spending time with his grandchildren. He loved fishing, Willie Nelson and the Georgia Bulldogs. He is preceded in death by his parents, James Jackson Segars, Sr and Mildred Beard Segars and his brother, Samuel Robert Segars. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Alzheimer’s Foundation (alzfdn.org). Visitation will be at A.S. Turner Funeral Home in Decatur on Thursday from 5-7 pm. The funeral service will at St. Phillip’s Cathedral on Peachtree Road NW on Friday at 10:30 am.